The center of contemporary [[Paris]] and the site of such landmarks as the Louvre and of the Tuileries and Palais-Royal, the '''1st Arrondissement''' [http://www.mairie1.paris.fr] is full of attractions for travelers of all inclinations, including some of the finest parks, museums, shops, and bars in the city. The 1st occupies the Right Bank of the River Seine and extends onto the western section of the ''Île de la Cité'' in the midst of the river.

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The centre of contemporary [[Paris]] and the site of such landmarks as the Louvre and of the Tuileries and Palais-Royal, the '''1st Arrondissement''' [http://www.mairie1.paris.fr] is full of attractions for travellers of all inclinations, including some of the finest parks, museums, shops, and bars in the city. The 1st occupies the Right Bank of the River Seine and extends onto the western section of the ''Île de la Cité'' in the midst of the river.

For occupying such a compact space, however the 1st feels remarkably different from one end to the other. The almost incredibly upscale western end of the arrondissement gives way to the hustle and bustle of the big city east of the '''Palais Royal''', and then further east to the pedestrian (and tourist) dominated area around '''Les Halles''' and the (currently shuttered) '''Samaritaine''', where tourists mix with (especially young) Parisiens and Parisiennes in ''huge'' numbers (on the order of 800,000 unique visitors per day according to the Mayor's office).

For occupying such a compact space, however the 1st feels remarkably different from one end to the other. The almost incredibly upscale western end of the arrondissement gives way to the hustle and bustle of the big city east of the '''Palais Royal''', and then further east to the pedestrian (and tourist) dominated area around '''Les Halles''' and the (currently shuttered) '''Samaritaine''', where tourists mix with (especially young) Parisiens and Parisiennes in ''huge'' numbers (on the order of 800,000 unique visitors per day according to the Mayor's office).

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Line 7:

==Understand==

==Understand==

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Paris was historically centered on the ''Ile de la cité'', but by the time Baron von Hausmann was given the task of carving up the city, the center had shifted somewhat to the previously suburban Royal Quarter surrounding the Louvre and the Palais Royal.

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Paris was historically centred on the ''Ile de la cité'', but by the time Baron von Hausmann was given the task of carving up the city, the centre had shifted somewhat to the previously suburban Royal Quarter surrounding the Louvre and the Palais Royal.

==Get in==

==Get in==

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Travelers arriving at one of the airports will probably get in via the RER-B line at the formidable ''Métro'' station ''Châtelet/Les Halles'', read on for details.

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Travellers arriving at one of the airports will probably get in via the RER-B line at the formidable ''Métro'' station ''Châtelet/Les Halles'', read on for details.

===By ''Métro''===

===By ''Métro''===

Line 17:

Line 17:

'''Châtelet/Les Halles''', the hub for the 1 and D lines is the largest and busiest of all ''Métro'' stations. There exists a total of seven entrances/exits scattered around the eastern end of the 1st Arrondissement, concentrated (not surprisingly) between ''Les Halles'' and ''Place du Châtelet'', and also accessing the basement of the ''Les Halles'' shopping mall itself. If you are in a hurry—or have never used this station previously—it might be better to alight one Métro stop earlier or later. Of course, if you are transferring to or traveling on one of the RER lines, brace yourself. Châtelet/Les Halles is a French equivalent for New York City's Grand Central Station.

'''Châtelet/Les Halles''', the hub for the 1 and D lines is the largest and busiest of all ''Métro'' stations. There exists a total of seven entrances/exits scattered around the eastern end of the 1st Arrondissement, concentrated (not surprisingly) between ''Les Halles'' and ''Place du Châtelet'', and also accessing the basement of the ''Les Halles'' shopping mall itself. If you are in a hurry—or have never used this station previously—it might be better to alight one Métro stop earlier or later. Of course, if you are transferring to or traveling on one of the RER lines, brace yourself. Châtelet/Les Halles is a French equivalent for New York City's Grand Central Station.

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Line 1 line crosses travels the length of the arrondissement, arriving from '''Chateau de Vincinnes''' in the east via Gare de Lyon, and '''La Défence''' in the west. Most of the stations are fairly easy to use with the exception of Châtelet/Les-Halles. If you have a choice go for '''Palais-Royale/Musée-de-Louvre''' or '''Tuileries'''.

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Line 1 line crosses travels the length of the arrondissement, arriving from '''Chateau de Vincinnes''' in the east via Gare de Lyon, and '''La Défense''' in the west. Most of the stations are fairly easy to use with the exception of Châtelet/Les-Halles. If you have a choice go for '''Palais-Royale/Musée-de-Louvre''' or '''Tuileries'''.

Line 14 line is the newest metro line, and probably the best way to arrive from '''Gare de Lyon''', and thus from Switzerland or the South of France since it is a fully automated express train. Think of it as a sort of a horizontal elevator. It stops at Châtelet/Les-Halles and '''Pyramides'''.

Line 14 line is the newest metro line, and probably the best way to arrive from '''Gare de Lyon''', and thus from Switzerland or the South of France since it is a fully automated express train. Think of it as a sort of a horizontal elevator. It stops at Châtelet/Les-Halles and '''Pyramides'''.

Line 28:

Line 28:

==Get around==

==Get around==

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Having arrived in the 1st arrondissement walking will most likely suffice for transport. That said, Paris cabs are quite cheap. Still, even they don't have access to much of the carfree eastern end of the arrondissement.

Having arrived in the 1st arrondissement walking will most likely suffice for transport. That said, Paris cabs are quite cheap. Still, even they don't have access to much of the carfree eastern end of the arrondissement.

Line 33:

Line 34:

==See==

==See==

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[[Image:Chapelle.jpg|thumb|windown in Sainte Chapelle]]

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[[Image:Chapelle.jpg|thumb|Window in Sainte Chapelle]]

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===Landmarks===

===Landmarks===

[[Image:Palais Royal.jpg|thumb|Le Palais Royal]]

[[Image:Palais Royal.jpg|thumb|Le Palais Royal]]

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* <see name="Le Louvre" alt="The Louvre" address="" directions="Métro: Palais Royal/Louvre" phone="+33 1 40 20 53 17" url="http://www.louvre.fr/louvrea.htm" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Open daily except Tuesdays and certain public holidays. Permanent collections 9 am to 6 pm (Wed and Fri til 10 pm). Under the pyramid is open 9 am to 10 pm. The primary landmark of the 1st arrondissement: as well as housing one of the world's great museums since 1793, the former palace offers some dazzling architecture, wide public spaces and the glass pyramid of I M Pei. Of course there's also quite a bit to see ''inside'' the building; see our coverage under '''Museums''' below.</see>

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* <see name="Le Louvre" alt="The Louvre" address="" directions="Métro: Palais Royal/Louvre" phone="+33 1 40 20 53 17" url="http://www.louvre.fr/louvrea.htm" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Open daily except Tuesdays and certain public holidays. Permanent collections 9 am to 6 pm (Wed and Fri til 10 pm). Under the pyramid is open 9 am to 10 pm. The primary landmark of the 1st arrondissement: as well as housing one of the world's great museums since 1793, the former palace offers some dazzling architecture, wide public spaces and the glass pyramid of I M Pei. Of course there's also quite a bit to see ''inside'' the building; see our coverage under '''Museums''' below. WHAT THE FRIKKIN FRIK IS THE COLOR OF THE METRO SHIT FOR THIS</see>

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* <see name="Jardin des Tuileries" address="" directions="Métro: Tuileries">Originally adjoining the now-disappeared royal palace of the Tuileries, these gardens lying immediately west of the Louvre offer a central open space for Parisians and visitors with semi-formal gardens (an outdoor gallery for modern sculpture), various cafés, ice-cream and crépe stalls and a summer fun fair. The gardens are frequently home to a giant ferris wheel and enclose the ''Musée de la Orangerie'' and the ''Jeu de Paume'' (see below).</see>

* <see name="Jardin des Tuileries" address="" directions="Métro: Tuileries">Originally adjoining the now-disappeared royal palace of the Tuileries, these gardens lying immediately west of the Louvre offer a central open space for Parisians and visitors with semi-formal gardens (an outdoor gallery for modern sculpture), various cafés, ice-cream and crépe stalls and a summer fun fair. The gardens are frequently home to a giant ferris wheel and enclose the ''Musée de la Orangerie'' and the ''Jeu de Paume'' (see below).</see>

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[[Image:PlaceVendome.JPG|thumb|240px|Place Vendôme]]

[[Image:PlaceVendome.JPG|thumb|240px|Place Vendôme]]

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* <see name="Colonne Vendôme" alt="" address="" directions="Métro: Opéra" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">The centerpiece of a magnificent 8-sided square first laid out in 1699 to show off an equestrian statue of the Sun King, Louis XIV. The statue was removed amidst Revolutionary fervor in 1792 and replaced in 1806 with the ''Colonne de la Grande Armée''. This was modeled on Trajan's column in [[Rome]] and decorated with Napoleon's military exploits. The present column is a replica, however, as the original was pulled down during the 1871 Paris Commune. Place Vendôme represents the best of well-heeled Paris, being home to an abundance of exclusive boutiques, jewelers and fashion labels - Cartier, Boucheron, Trussardi, van Cleef & Arpels - several banks, the French Ministry of Justice and the Ritz Hotel.</see>

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* <see name="Le Palais Royal" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="+33 1 45 20 82 56" url="http://www.palais-royal.org/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">7:00am to 11:00pm during the summer and 7:00am to 8:30pm in the winter with hours varying in the spring and Autumn months. Ordered by Cardinal de Richelieu (1585-1642), King Louis XIIIth's prime Minister in 1629 (completed in 1636); originally called ''Palais Cardinal''; it became ''Le Palais Royal'' when Anne d'Autriche, Louis XIIIth's wife, came to live here to get away from the ''Louvre'' palace. It eventually housed Louis the XIVth until the move to [[Versailles]]. It includes also a beautiful garden ''Les jardins du Palais Royal'', enclosed within the buildings. It's been the theater of one of the seminal events of the French Revolution (Camille Desmoulins made a famous declaration here in 1789). The ''Théatre Français'' nearby was built in 1716. There are numerous restaurants inside the garden , including famous ''Le Grand Véfour''. There's also the controversial ''Colonnes de Buren'', striped columns installed within the inside yard among the XVIIth century architecture.</see>

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* <see name="Colonne Vendôme" alt="" address="" directions="Métro: Opéra" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">The centrepiece of a magnificent 8-sided square first laid out in 1699 to show off an equestrian statue of the Sun King, Louis XIV. The statue was removed amidst Revolutionary fervor in 1792 and replaced in 1806 with the ''Colonne de la Grande Armée''. This was modeled on Trajan's column in [[Rome]] and decorated with Napoleon's military exploits. The present column is a replica, however, as the original was pulled down during the 1871 Paris Commune. Place Vendôme represents the best of well-heeled Paris, being home to an abundance of exclusive boutiques, jewelers and fashion labels - Cartier, Boucheron, Trussardi, van Cleef & Arpels - several banks, the French Ministry of Justice and the Ritz Hotel.</see>

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* <see name="Le Palais Royal" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="+33 1 45 20 82 56" url="http://www.palais-royal.org/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">7:00am to 11:00pm during the summer and 7:00am-8:30pm in the winter with hours varying in the spring and Autumn months. Ordered by Cardinal de Richelieu (1585-1642), King Louis XIIIth's prime Minister in 1629 (completed in 1636); originally called ''Palais Cardinal''; it became ''Le Palais Royal'' when Anne d'Autriche, Louis XIIIth's wife, came to live here to get away from the ''Louvre'' palace. It eventually housed Louis the XIVth until the move to [[Versailles]]. It includes also a beautiful garden ''Les jardins du Palais Royal'', enclosed within the buildings. It's been the theater of one of the seminal events of the French Revolution (Camille Desmoulins made a famous declaration here in 1789). The ''Théatre Français'' nearby was built in 1716. There are numerous restaurants inside the garden , including famous ''Le Grand Véfour''. There's also the controversial ''Colonnes de Buren'', striped columns installed within the inside yard among the XVIIth century architecture.</see>

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* <see name="Église Saint-Eustache" alt="" address="" directions="Located near Les Halles and the Bourse de Commerce" phone="" url="http://www.classictic.com/venues/55.html" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">This massive church is one of the best standing examples of the early Gothic style.</see>

* <see name="Église Saint-Eustache" alt="" address="" directions="Located near Les Halles and the Bourse de Commerce" phone="" url="http://www.classictic.com/venues/55.html" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">This massive church is one of the best standing examples of the early Gothic style.</see>

* <see name="Sainte Chapelle" alt="" address="4 blvd du Palais" directions="Métro: Cité" phone="+33 (0)1 53 73 8 51" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long=""> Soaring stained glass windows beaming ample light onto the rich primary colors of the tile mosaics on the floor, this photogenic church was built by the French kings to house the relics of the Crown of Thorns - far more beautiful than the famous, but gloomy, Notre Dame which is nearby. Make sure you go on a sunny day, as the highlight of this small chapel in Rayonnante Gothic style are the large stained-glass windows which soar up to near the vaulted ceiling. Also of interest is the extremely ornate lower level. If it happens to be rainy or cloudy, give Sainte Chappelle a miss, as the play of colored lights on the floor are well worth the wait for a sunnier day. The chapelle is located inside the Courts of Justice, there will thus be a security check.</see>

* <see name="Sainte Chapelle" alt="" address="4 blvd du Palais" directions="Métro: Cité" phone="+33 (0)1 53 73 8 51" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long=""> Soaring stained glass windows beaming ample light onto the rich primary colors of the tile mosaics on the floor, this photogenic church was built by the French kings to house the relics of the Crown of Thorns - far more beautiful than the famous, but gloomy, Notre Dame which is nearby. Make sure you go on a sunny day, as the highlight of this small chapel in Rayonnante Gothic style are the large stained-glass windows which soar up to near the vaulted ceiling. Also of interest is the extremely ornate lower level. If it happens to be rainy or cloudy, give Sainte Chappelle a miss, as the play of colored lights on the floor are well worth the wait for a sunnier day. The chapelle is located inside the Courts of Justice, there will thus be a security check.</see>

* <see name="Musée du Louvre" alt="" address="Place du Carrousel" directions="Métro: Louvre" phone="+33 1 40 20 53 17" url="http://www.louvre.fr/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" fax="">open daily 10am-6pm, closed Tuesdays and some public holidays, evening openings We and Fr until 9.45pm, 1st Su of the month. Free admission for all, general admission (not including special exhibitions) adults €9, evening openings adults €6, special exhibition €8.50; combined ticket (museum + special exhibition) adults €13, evening openings €11 ''Carte Musée''. Its exhibits come from such diverse origins as ancient [[Egypt]], classical [[Greece]] and [[Rome]], medieval Europe and Napoleonic France. Its most famous exhibit, of course, is Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the Mona Lisa (French: ''La Joconde'', Italian: ''La Gioconda''), generally to be found surrounded by hordes of camera-flashing tourists. If you want to see everything in the Louvre, plan ''at least'' two full days. However, it is better to pick and choose, as the collection was assembled with an eye to completeness rather than quality.</see>

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* <see name="Musée du Louvre" alt="" address="Place du Carrousel" directions="Métro: Louvre" phone="+33 1 40 20 53 17" url="http://www.louvre.fr/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="" fax="">open daily 10am-6pm, closed Tuesdays and some public holidays, evening openings We and Fr until 9.45pm, 1st Su of the month. Free admission for all, general admission (not including special exhibitions) adults €11. Its exhibits come from such diverse origins as ancient [[Egypt]], classical [[Greece]] and [[Rome]], medieval Europe and Napoleonic France. Its most famous exhibit, of course, is Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the Mona Lisa (French: ''La Joconde'', Italian: ''La Gioconda''), generally to be found surrounded by hordes of camera-flashing tourists. If you want to see everything in the Louvre, plan ''at least'' two full days. However, it is better to pick and choose, as the collection was assembled with an eye to completeness rather than quality.</see>

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*<see name="Musée en Herbe" alt="" address="21 rue Hérold" directions="Métro: Les Halles, Palais Royal, Rambuteau, Sentier" phone="+33 1 40 67 97 66" url="http://www.musee-en-herbe.com" hours="Open daily 10 :00 am to 7 :00 pm." price="€4 for the exhibitions, €8 for the workshops" lat="" long="" fax="">A little brother for the original Musée en Herbe in the Bois de Boulogne, this museum is also geared for '''children'''. They have games and hands-on exhibits so won't have to supervise quite as closely as in other museums. Arts workshops are available as well, but you'll need to reserve a space in advance.</see>

*<see name="Musée en Herbe" alt="" address="21 rue Hérold" directions="Métro: Les Halles, Palais Royal, Rambuteau, Sentier" phone="+33 1 40 67 97 66" url="http://www.musee-en-herbe.com" hours="Open daily 10 :00 am to 7 :00 pm." price="€4 for the exhibitions, €8 for the workshops" lat="" long="" fax="">A little brother for the original Musée en Herbe in the Bois de Boulogne, this museum is also geared for '''children'''. They have games and hands-on exhibits so won't have to supervise quite as closely as in other museums. Arts workshops are available as well, but you'll need to reserve a space in advance.</see>

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* <see name="l'Orangerie" alt="Musée de la Orangerie" address="" directions="" phone="+33 1 44 77 80 07" url="http://www.musee-orangerie.fr/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">''open daily, except Tu, Christmas Day and 1st May; individuals 12.30pm-7pm, until 9pm Th; groups 9.30am-12.30pm; admission €6.50 adults, concessions €4.50, special exhibition + €1.20; audio guides available in several languages €4.50 / €3'' - recently reopened after extensive renovations, this small museum near the Louvre houses the ''Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume Collection'', sold to the French Republic on very generous terms and numbering 143 paintings from the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century (15 Cézannes, 24 Renoirs, 10 Matisses, 12 Picassos, 28 Derains, 22 Soutines… ). The collection joined the eight immense ''Water Lilies'' that Monet gave France in 1922 and which have been displayed since 1927 in two huge oval rooms purpose-built on the artist's instructions.</see>

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* <see name="l'Orangerie" alt="Musée de la Orangerie" address="" directions="" phone="+33 1 44 77 80 07" url="http://www.musee-orangerie.fr/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">''open daily, except Tu, Christmas Day and 1st May; individuals 12.30pm-7pm, until 9pm Th; groups 9.30am-12.30pm; admission €7.50 adults; audio guides available in several languages €4.50'' - recently reopened after extensive renovations, this small museum near the Louvre houses the ''Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume Collection'', sold to the French Republic on very generous terms and numbering 143 paintings from the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century (15 Cézannes, 24 Renoirs, 10 Matisses, 12 Picassos, 28 Derains, 22 Soutines… ). The collection joined the eight immense ''Water Lilies'' that Monet gave France in 1922 and which have been displayed since 1927 in two huge oval rooms purpose-built on the artist's instructions.</see>

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* <see name="Jeu de Paume" alt="" address="" directions="northwestern corner of the Jardin des Tuileries" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Built during the First Empire, in imitation of the ''Orangerie'' this small building is used by the ''Galerie Nationale'' to mount shows dedicated to lesser known, but nonetheless interesting artists, or (sometimes) the lesser known works of the Great Masters. This museum once housed many of the Impressionist painters that are now to be found in the Musée d'Orsay on the other side of the River Seine.</see>

* <see name="Jeu de Paume" alt="" address="" directions="northwestern corner of the Jardin des Tuileries" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Built during the First Empire, in imitation of the ''Orangerie'' this small building is used by the ''Galerie Nationale'' to mount shows dedicated to lesser known, but nonetheless interesting artists, or (sometimes) the lesser known works of the Great Masters. This museum once housed many of the Impressionist painters that are now to be found in the Musée d'Orsay on the other side of the River Seine.</see>

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* <see name="Musée des Arts décoratifs" alt="" address="107, rue de Rivoli" directions="" phone="+33 1 44 55 57 50" url="http://www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Around the corner from the Musée du Louvre at Rue de Rivoli 107 - monument to the French art de vivre, housed in a 19th-century wing of the Louvre that has been restored to Beaux-Arts splendor, its galleries and period rooms showcasing eight centuries of Gallic taste in interior decoration.</see>

* <see name="Musée des Arts décoratifs" alt="" address="107, rue de Rivoli" directions="" phone="+33 1 44 55 57 50" url="http://www.lesartsdecoratifs.fr" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Around the corner from the Musée du Louvre at Rue de Rivoli 107 - monument to the French art de vivre, housed in a 19th-century wing of the Louvre that has been restored to Beaux-Arts splendor, its galleries and period rooms showcasing eight centuries of Gallic taste in interior decoration.</see>

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==Buy==

==Buy==

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* <buy name="Forum les Halles" address="" directions="Métro: Les Halles">Open daily from 9am to 7pm. In the late 1960s what was Paris' primary farmers' market moved out to the suburbs to be replaced by a park above ground, and a sprawling underground shopping center below. The interior design is strikingly period (think ''Logan's Run''). The place is showing its age now, but still draws nearly a half-million ''parisien/ennes'' per day, mostly teenagers. There's a movie theater and a media library too.</buy>

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* <buy name="Forum les Halles" address="" directions="Métro: Les Halles">Open daily from 9am to 7pm. In the late 1960s what was Paris' primary farmers' market moved out to the suburbs to be replaced by a park above ground, and a sprawling underground shopping centre below. The interior design is strikingly period (think ''Logan's Run''). The place is showing its age now, but still draws nearly a half-million ''parisien/ennes'' per day, mostly teenagers. There's a movie theater and a media library too.</buy>

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* <buy name="Rue Montorgueil" directions="Métro: Les Halles or Etienne-Marcel">To the north and west of Les Halles almost all of the streets are car-free including this one, on which you can find a wide range of food shops including two great bakers, a fish market, and a bio organic foods store.</buy>

* <buy name="Rue Montorgueil" directions="Métro: Les Halles or Etienne-Marcel">To the north and west of Les Halles almost all of the streets are car-free including this one, on which you can find a wide range of food shops including two great bakers, a fish market, and a bio organic foods store.</buy>

* <eat name="La Crypte Polska" alt="" address="place Maurice Barrés" directions="Métro: Concorde" phone="+33 1 42 60 43 33" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Noon-3pm and 7pm to 10pm. Closed Monday. Believe it or not this little Polish restaurant is in the crypt under the church of Our Lady of the Assumption, and the Catholic-mystic decor alone makes a visit worthwhile. Plus the pierogies are about as good as you are going to find in Paris. Expect to pay 12 to 20€ per person for the whole meal.</eat>

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* <eat name="La Crypte Polska" alt="" address="place Maurice Barrés" directions="Métro: Concorde" phone="+33 1 42 60 43 33" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Noon-3pm and 7pm to 10pm. Closed Monday. Believe it or not this little Polish restaurant is in the crypt under the church of Our Lady of the Assumption, and the Catholic-mystic decor alone makes a visit worthwhile. Plus the pierogi are about as good as you are going to find in Paris. Expect to pay €12-20 per person for the whole meal.</eat>

* <eat name="Aux Trois Oliviers" alt="" address="37 bis rue de Montpensier" directions="Métro: Palais Royal-Louvre" phone="+33 1 40 20 03 02" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">This colorful and non-pretentious restaurant offers a range of dishes from throughout France and around the world. The mojitos are said to be quite good, as is the wine list. There's live entertainment (''chansons français'') each Friday night. Expect to spend around 15€ per person at lunch or 20€ at night.</eat>

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* <eat name="Chez Denise" alt="Tour de Montlhéry" address="5 rue Prouvaires" directions="Métro: Les Halles" phone="+33 1 42 36 21 82" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Tues-Sun: noon-2:15pm & 7pm-11pm Mon: 7pm-11pm This little owner-operated bistro presents traditional French country food in a nearly rustic setting. As such it's not exactly veggie-friendly, but it is open for dinner until an incredible 5:00am. Starters are from 10-12€ and main courses are 18-25€, then there's the wine.</eat>

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* <eat name="Aux Trois Oliviers" alt="" address="37 bis rue de Montpensier" directions="Métro: Palais Royal-Louvre" phone="+33 1 40 20 03 02" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">This colorful and non-pretentious restaurant offers a range of dishes from throughout France and around the world. The mojitos are said to be quite good, as is the wine list. There's live entertainment (''chansons français'') each Friday night. Expect to spend around €15 per person at lunch or €20 at night.</eat>

* <eat name="Point Bar" alt="" address="40 Place du Marché Saint-Honoré" directions="Métro: Opéra or Pyramides" phone="+33 1 42 61 76 28" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Alice Bardet, the daughter of a famous French ''chef de cuisine'', Jean Bardet, has provided a prime example of great French restauranteering for the rest of us as a way of making her own name in the business. She is said to have grown up in her parent's restaurant, and has brought the style, the techniques, and a feeling for quality ingredients along. Lunchtime ''Menus'' start at just 15€, but the prices move toward the splurge category at night when you'll spend around 40€ per person ordering ''à la carte''.</eat>

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* <eat name="Maceo" alt="" address="15, rue des Petits Champs" directions="Métro: Pyramides" phone="+33 1 42 96 98 89" url="http://maceorestaurant.com/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">What was once just a great wine bar with decent food has become a must-visit restaurant with the addition of star chef Thierry Bourbonnais. The second-empire atmosphere sets the stage for the fantastic food, making this a great value for a not terribly pricey splurge. Starters run 13-18€ and main courses are 25-28€. There's even a '''Vegetarian''' menu for around 30€.</eat>

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* <eat name="Point Bar" alt="" address="40 Place du Marché Saint-Honoré" directions="Métro: Opéra or Pyramides" phone="+33 1 42 61 76 28" url="" hours="" price="Lunchtime ''Menus'' start at €15, but the prices at night are around €40 per person ordering ''à la carte''" lat="" long="">Alice Bardet, the daughter of a famous French ''chef de cuisine'', Jean Bardet, has provided style, technique, and a feeling for quality ingredients to the restaurant.</eat>

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* <eat name="Maceo" alt="" address="15, rue des Petits Champs" directions="Métro: Pyramides" phone="+33 1 42 96 98 89" url="http://maceorestaurant.com/" hours="" price="Starters €13-18 and main courses are €25-28. There's a '''Vegetarian''' menu for around €30." lat="" long="">What was once just a great wine bar with decent food has become a must-visit restaurant with the addition of star chef Thierry Bourbonnais. Second-empire atmosphere with fantastic food.</eat>

==Drink==

==Drink==

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* <drink name="Bar Hemingway" alt="" address="15 Place Vendôme" directions="Métro: Pyramides" phone="+33 1 43 16 33 65" url="" hours="" price="Expect to pay €30 or more per drink" lat="48.8690130" long="2.3276673" fax="+33 1 43 16 33 75">Hemingway tried to drink here once per week even before he made it. Afterwards it was his favorite: when in August of 1944 Hemingway made a booze-powered drive into Paris ''ahead'' of the advancing Free French 2nd tank division it was to "liberate the Ritz", and specifically the bar which was shortly thereafter re-named in his honor. Today the bar is considered by many to be one of the best bars in the world, in no small part due to the bar-tending skills of Colin Field, who creates elaborate cocktails as a fine art, and with the rest of the staff is skilled at bringing his guests together in conversation.</drink>

* <drink name="Bar Hemingway" alt="" address="15 Place Vendôme" directions="Métro: Pyramides" phone="+33 1 43 16 33 65" url="" hours="" price="Expect to pay €30 or more per drink" lat="48.8690130" long="2.3276673" fax="+33 1 43 16 33 75">Hemingway tried to drink here once per week even before he made it. Afterwards it was his favorite: when in August of 1944 Hemingway made a booze-powered drive into Paris ''ahead'' of the advancing Free French 2nd tank division it was to "liberate the Ritz", and specifically the bar which was shortly thereafter re-named in his honor. Today the bar is considered by many to be one of the best bars in the world, in no small part due to the bar-tending skills of Colin Field, who creates elaborate cocktails as a fine art, and with the rest of the staff is skilled at bringing his guests together in conversation.</drink>

* <drink name="Le Comptoir Paris-Marrakech" alt="" address="37, rue Berger" directions="Métro: Les Halles" phone="+33 1 40 26 26 66" url="" hours="" price="" lat="48.8617962" long="2.3435712">A swank drinking and people watching spot on a corner across from the park above ''Les Halles''. There are nice stuffed couches all over the room, and meze snacks are served. The place picks up speed a bit in the evening, attracting quite a mixed crowd.</drink>

* <drink name="Le Comptoir Paris-Marrakech" alt="" address="37, rue Berger" directions="Métro: Les Halles" phone="+33 1 40 26 26 66" url="" hours="" price="" lat="48.8617962" long="2.3435712">A swank drinking and people watching spot on a corner across from the park above ''Les Halles''. There are nice stuffed couches all over the room, and meze snacks are served. The place picks up speed a bit in the evening, attracting quite a mixed crowd.</drink>

* <drink name="Café Oz" alt="" address="18, rue Saint Denis" directions="" phone="+33 1 40 39 00 18" url="http://cafe-oz.com" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">You probably didn't think you were coming to Paris to sample Australian culture, but if after a long day of strolling from one end of the city to another you would just like to let go a bit and meet up with some fellow Anglophones then you could do a lot worse than this almost legendarily hard-partying Aussie joint (ask the neighbors). Warning: as with other Aussie places in Paris for some reason, weekend nights here tend to bring out hoards of young single Frenchmen looking to chat up some (any) visiting anglophonette. This has been known to lead to, um, confrontations. ~7€ Pints.</drink>

* <drink name="Willi's Wine Bar" alt="" address="13 rue des Petits Champs" directions="" phone="+33 1 42 61 05 09" url="http://www.williswinebar.com" hours="" price="€20.50-€35.00" lat="" long="">It's actually a restaurant and is more upscale than 'Juvéniles', serving good food and good to great bottles of wine with a focus on the Rhône valley, but including many from Burgundy, the Loire, as well as Italians and "Atlantic crossing" Califorians. The dinner menu by chef François Yon Great won the "Bib Gourmet 2009" award, and there are cheeses & deserts (yummy crumble)) for after. Reservation recommended.</drink>

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[[Image:Paris 1st vendome.jpg|thumb|240px|Place Vendôme]]

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==Sleep==

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* <drink name="Café Oz" alt="" address="18, rue Saint Denis" directions="" phone="+33 1 40 39 00 18" url="http://cafe-oz.com" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">You probably didn't think you were coming to Paris to sample Australian culture, but if after a long day of strolling from one end of the city to another you would just like to let go a bit and meet up with some fellow Anglophones then you could do a lot worse than this almost legendarily hard-partying Aussie joint (ask the neighbors). Warning: as with other Aussie places in Paris for some reason, weekend nights here tend to bring out hoards of young single Frenchmen looking to chat up some (any) visiting anglophonette. This has been known to lead to, um, confrontations. ~€7 pints.</drink>

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Some of the most opulent hotels in the world are located either in or very close to the 1st arrondissement, and there's some choice in the mid-range. Budget travelers, on the other hand are probably better off in other, less central parts of town.

* <drink name="Willi's Wine Bar" alt="" address="13 rue des Petits Champs" directions="" phone="+33 1 42 61 05 09" url="http://www.williswinebar.com" hours="" price="€20.50-€35.00" lat="" long="">It's actually a restaurant and is more upscale than 'Juvéniles', serving good food and good to great bottles of wine with a focus on the Rhône valley, but including many from Burgundy, the Loire, as well as Italians and "Atlantic crossing" Califorians. The dinner menu by chef François Yon Great won the "Bib Gourmet 2009" award, and there are cheeses &amp; deserts (yummy crumble)) for after. Reservation recommended.</drink>

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[[Image:Paris 1st vendome.jpg|thumb|240px|Place Vendôme]]

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==Sleep==

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Rental apartments are cheaper in Paris than hotels.

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Some of the most opulent hotels in the world are located either in or very close to the 1st arrondissement, and there's some choice in the mid-range. Budget travellers, on the other hand are probably better off in other, less central parts of town.

===Budget===

===Budget===

* <sleep name="Centre International BVJ Paris-Louvre" address="20 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau" directions="Métro: Louvre" phone="+33 1 53 00 90 90" url="" fax="+33 1 53 00 90 91" email="" lat="48.8625381" long="2.3410622">With beds starting at 26€ this is just about as cheap as it's going to get in the 1st. If you are here to study the art at the Louvre, and want to stay focused it has a location which can't be beat, just across rue Rivoli.</sleep>

* <sleep name="Centre International BVJ Paris-Louvre" address="20 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau" directions="Métro: Louvre" phone="+33 1 53 00 90 90" url="" fax="+33 1 53 00 90 91" email="" lat="48.8625381" long="2.3410622">With beds starting at 26€ this is just about as cheap as it's going to get in the 1st. If you are here to study the art at the Louvre, and want to stay focused it has a location which can't be beat, just across rue Rivoli.</sleep>

* <sleep name="Hôtel Saint-Honoré" alt="" address="85 Rue Saint-Honoré" directions="Métro: Louvre" phone="+33 1 42 36 20 38" url="http://hotelsthonore.com" checkin="" checkout="" price="" lat="48.8611083" long="2.3433014" fax="" email="">This is as cheap as it gets for a hotel in this most central of locations, very close to the Louvre. The place was renovated in the last few years, so the comfort level is pretty good considering it hasn't received a star rating yet.</sleep>

* <sleep name="Hôtel Saint-Honoré" alt="" address="85 Rue Saint-Honoré" directions="Métro: Louvre" phone="+33 1 42 36 20 38" url="http://hotelsthonore.com" checkin="" checkout="" price="" lat="48.8611083" long="2.3433014" fax="" email="">Close to the Louvre. The place was renovated in the last few years, so the comfort level is pretty good considering it hasn't received a star rating yet.</sleep>

*<sleep name="Hôtel de la Place du Louvre" alt="" address="21 rue des Prêtres Saint Germain l'Auxerrois" url="http://www.paris-hotel-place-du-louvre.com/en/home" checkin="" checkout="" price="" lat="" long="">As its name suggests it, this hotel is located really close to the Louvre Museum. Rooms on the street offer an impressive view on the Louvre and its central location is ideal to visit Paris.</sleep>

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*<sleep name="Hôtel de la Place du Louvre" alt="" address="21 rue des Prêtres Saint Germain l'Auxerrois" directions="" phone="" url="http://www.paris-hotel-place-du-louvre.com/en/home" checkin="" checkout="" price="" lat="" long="">As its name suggests it, this hotel is located really close to the Louvre Museum. Rooms on the street offer an impressive view on the Louvre and its central location is ideal to visit Paris.</sleep>

===Splurge===

===Splurge===

Line 149:

Line 183:

*<sleep name="Castille Paris" alt="" address="33-37 rue Cambon" directions="" phone="+33 144 584 458" url="http://www.castille.com/" checkin="" checkout="" price="€350-820" lat="" long="">Located in the fashion district of Paris, the Castille Paris offers chic rooms that all look out onto the Rue Cambon. Some rooms are designed in a "Coco Chanel" style with beige and black tones.</sleep>

*<sleep name="Castille Paris" alt="" address="33-37 rue Cambon" directions="" phone="+33 144 584 458" url="http://www.castille.com/" checkin="" checkout="" price="€350-820" lat="" long="">Located in the fashion district of Paris, the Castille Paris offers chic rooms that all look out onto the Rue Cambon. Some rooms are designed in a "Coco Chanel" style with beige and black tones.</sleep>

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* <sleep name="Hôtel Vendôme" address="1, Place Vendôme" directions="Métro: Pyramides" phone="+33 1 55 04 55 00" url="" fax="" email="" lat="48.8670031" long="2.3287060">Occupying a building which was once the site of the Embassy of the Republic of Texas the Hotel Vendôme is one of the most exclusive addresses anywhere, much like the neighboring '''Ritz'''. The 29 rooms each have been decorated in the style of a different period, such as Classic, Baroque, or Deco. Singles start at only 350€, and suites can be as much as 4000€. Hey, compared to the '''Ritz''' it's a bargain!</sleep>

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* <sleep name="Hôtel Vendôme" address="1, Place Vendôme" directions="Métro: Pyramides" phone="+33 1 55 04 55 00" url="" fax="" email="" lat="48.8670031" long="2.3287060">Occupying a building which was once the site of the Embassy of the Republic of Texas the Hotel Vendôme is one of the most exclusive addresses anywhere, much like the neighboring '''Ritz'''. The 29 rooms each have been decorated in the style of a different period, such as Classic, Baroque, or Deco. Singles start at only €350, and suites can be as much as €4,000.</sleep>

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* <sleep name="Hôtel Costes" address="239 Rue Saint-Honoré" directions="Métro: Concorde" phone="+33 1 42 44 50 00" url="http://hotelcostes.com" fax="+33 1 42 55 50 01" email="" lat="48.8664365" long="2.3286655">When the Costes brothers who made their fortune in the Paris café trade opened this designer hotel a couple of years ago it became an instant hit with the rich and famous, especially of Hollywood. Whether it's worth the price for the exquisite interior decoration and the chance to rub elbows with a few movie stars is up to you to decide. A basic room starts at 500€ in the off season. Be warned: they don't pay travel agents commissions, so either book it yourself, or pony up the extra 50€ the agent would normally get.</sleep>

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* <sleep name="Hôtel Ritz" address="15 Place Vendôme" directions="Métro: Pyramides" phone="+33 1 43 16 30 70" url="http://www.ritzparis.com/" fax="+33 1 43 16 36 68" email="resa@ritzparis.com" lat="48.8683694" long="2.3282338">If there is any one hotel in the world which is not merely "putting on" the Ritz it would be this one, whose very name has entered the English language as a generic word for luxury (or the appearance thereof). The Ritz may not in fact be the fanciest hotel in Paris anymore, but it's always in the running. Rooms start at 650€ per night, and run right up to 8500€ (350x the price of our budget entry in the neighborhood), but heck, maybe it's your honeymoon.</sleep>

+

* <sleep name="Hôtel Costes" address="239 Rue Saint-Honoré" directions="Métro: Concorde" phone="+33 1 42 44 50 00" url="http://hotelcostes.com" fax="+33 1 42 55 50 01" email="" lat="48.8664365" long="2.3286655">When the Costes brothers who made their fortune in the Paris café trade opened this designer hotel a couple of years ago it became an instant hit with the rich and famous, especially of Hollywood. Whether it's worth the price for the exquisite interior decoration and the chance to rub elbows with a few movie stars is up to you to decide. A basic room starts at €500in the off season. Be warned: they don't pay travel agents commissions, so either book it yourself, or pony up the extra €50 the agent would normally get.</sleep>

+

+

* <sleep name="Hôtel Ritz" address="15 Place Vendôme" directions="Métro: Pyramides" phone="+33 1 43 16 30 70" url="http://www.ritzparis.com/" fax="+33 1 43 16 36 68" email="resa@ritzparis.com" lat="48.8683694" long="2.3282338">If there is any one hotel in the world which is not merely "putting on" the Ritz it would be this one, whose very name has entered the English language as a generic word for luxury (or the appearance thereof). The Ritz may not in fact be the fanciest hotel in Paris anymore, but it's always in the running. Rooms start at €650per night, and run right up to €8,500(350x the price of our budget entry in the neighborhood), but heck, maybe it's your honeymoon.</sleep>

Revision as of 05:26, 13 November 2012

The Louvre

The centre of contemporary Paris and the site of such landmarks as the Louvre and of the Tuileries and Palais-Royal, the 1st Arrondissement[1] is full of attractions for travellers of all inclinations, including some of the finest parks, museums, shops, and bars in the city. The 1st occupies the Right Bank of the River Seine and extends onto the western section of the Île de la Cité in the midst of the river.

For occupying such a compact space, however the 1st feels remarkably different from one end to the other. The almost incredibly upscale western end of the arrondissement gives way to the hustle and bustle of the big city east of the Palais Royal, and then further east to the pedestrian (and tourist) dominated area around Les Halles and the (currently shuttered) Samaritaine, where tourists mix with (especially young) Parisiens and Parisiennes in huge numbers (on the order of 800,000 unique visitors per day according to the Mayor's office).

Contents

Understand

Paris was historically centred on the Ile de la cité, but by the time Baron von Hausmann was given the task of carving up the city, the centre had shifted somewhat to the previously suburban Royal Quarter surrounding the Louvre and the Palais Royal.

Get in

Travellers arriving at one of the airports will probably get in via the RER-B line at the formidable Métro station Châtelet/Les Halles, read on for details.

By Métro

Châtelet/Les Halles, the hub for the 1 and D lines is the largest and busiest of all Métro stations. There exists a total of seven entrances/exits scattered around the eastern end of the 1st Arrondissement, concentrated (not surprisingly) between Les Halles and Place du Châtelet, and also accessing the basement of the Les Halles shopping mall itself. If you are in a hurry—or have never used this station previously—it might be better to alight one Métro stop earlier or later. Of course, if you are transferring to or traveling on one of the RER lines, brace yourself. Châtelet/Les Halles is a French equivalent for New York City's Grand Central Station.

Line 1 line crosses travels the length of the arrondissement, arriving from Chateau de Vincinnes in the east via Gare de Lyon, and La Défense in the west. Most of the stations are fairly easy to use with the exception of Châtelet/Les-Halles. If you have a choice go for Palais-Royale/Musée-de-Louvre or Tuileries.

Line 14 line is the newest metro line, and probably the best way to arrive from Gare de Lyon, and thus from Switzerland or the South of France since it is a fully automated express train. Think of it as a sort of a horizontal elevator. It stops at Châtelet/Les-Halles and Pyramides.

Line 7 cuts diagonally across from the northwest to the southeast or the other way depending on how you look at it. Entering from the southwest (perhaps Gare d Austerlitz) you'll want to get off at Pont Neuf.

Line 4 runs north and south through the east end of the arrondissement, mostly under Châtelet. Again, we prefer the Cité or Etienne-Marcel stops to the Châtelet madness.

All four RER lines cross the arrondissement and stop at Chatelet/Les-Halles.

Get around

Having arrived in the 1st arrondissement walking will most likely suffice for transport. That said, Paris cabs are quite cheap. Still, even they don't have access to much of the carfree eastern end of the arrondissement.

If traveling from east to west by Métro you are probably best off using any other stations than Châtelet/Les Halles unless you have to connect there. Although the Métro trains themselves are fast and frequent, the crowded labyrinth at Châtelet can make getting to the trains an adventure.

See

Window in Sainte Chapelle

Landmarks

Le Palais Royal

Le Louvre (The Louvre), (Métro: Palais Royal/Louvre), ☎+33 1 40 20 53 17, [2]. Open daily except Tuesdays and certain public holidays. Permanent collections 9 am to 6 pm (Wed and Fri til 10 pm). Under the pyramid is open 9 am to 10 pm. The primary landmark of the 1st arrondissement: as well as housing one of the world's great museums since 1793, the former palace offers some dazzling architecture, wide public spaces and the glass pyramid of I M Pei. Of course there's also quite a bit to see inside the building; see our coverage under Museums below. WHAT THE FRIKKIN FRIK IS THE COLOR OF THE METRO SHIT FOR THIS

Jardin des Tuileries, (Métro: Tuileries). Originally adjoining the now-disappeared royal palace of the Tuileries, these gardens lying immediately west of the Louvre offer a central open space for Parisians and visitors with semi-formal gardens (an outdoor gallery for modern sculpture), various cafés, ice-cream and crépe stalls and a summer fun fair. The gardens are frequently home to a giant ferris wheel and enclose the Musée de la Orangerie and the Jeu de Paume (see below).

Place Vendôme

Colonne Vendôme, (Métro: Opéra). The centrepiece of a magnificent 8-sided square first laid out in 1699 to show off an equestrian statue of the Sun King, Louis XIV. The statue was removed amidst Revolutionary fervor in 1792 and replaced in 1806 with the Colonne de la Grande Armée. This was modeled on Trajan's column in Rome and decorated with Napoleon's military exploits. The present column is a replica, however, as the original was pulled down during the 1871 Paris Commune. Place Vendôme represents the best of well-heeled Paris, being home to an abundance of exclusive boutiques, jewelers and fashion labels - Cartier, Boucheron, Trussardi, van Cleef & Arpels - several banks, the French Ministry of Justice and the Ritz Hotel.

Le Palais Royal, ☎+33 1 45 20 82 56, [3]. 7:00am to 11:00pm during the summer and 7:00am-8:30pm in the winter with hours varying in the spring and Autumn months. Ordered by Cardinal de Richelieu (1585-1642), King Louis XIIIth's prime Minister in 1629 (completed in 1636); originally called Palais Cardinal; it became Le Palais Royal when Anne d'Autriche, Louis XIIIth's wife, came to live here to get away from the Louvre palace. It eventually housed Louis the XIVth until the move to Versailles. It includes also a beautiful garden Les jardins du Palais Royal, enclosed within the buildings. It's been the theater of one of the seminal events of the French Revolution (Camille Desmoulins made a famous declaration here in 1789). The Théatre Français nearby was built in 1716. There are numerous restaurants inside the garden , including famous Le Grand Véfour. There's also the controversial Colonnes de Buren, striped columns installed within the inside yard among the XVIIth century architecture.

Église Saint-Eustache, (Located near Les Halles and the Bourse de Commerce), [4]. This massive church is one of the best standing examples of the early Gothic style.

Map of the 1st Arrondissement

Sainte Chapelle, 4 blvd du Palais (Métro: Cité), ☎+33 (0)1 53 73 8 51. Soaring stained glass windows beaming ample light onto the rich primary colors of the tile mosaics on the floor, this photogenic church was built by the French kings to house the relics of the Crown of Thorns - far more beautiful than the famous, but gloomy, Notre Dame which is nearby. Make sure you go on a sunny day, as the highlight of this small chapel in Rayonnante Gothic style are the large stained-glass windows which soar up to near the vaulted ceiling. Also of interest is the extremely ornate lower level. If it happens to be rainy or cloudy, give Sainte Chappelle a miss, as the play of colored lights on the floor are well worth the wait for a sunnier day. The chapelle is located inside the Courts of Justice, there will thus be a security check.

La Conciergerie, (Métro: Cité), ☎+33 1 53 73 78 50, [5]. open daily 9.30am - 6.30pm April - September; daily 10 am - 5 pm October - March, entry €6.10, concessions and guided tours available, under-18s free - the ancient medieval fortress and prison of the city's island, site of some remarkable medieval royal architecture and the scene of Marie Antoinette's imprisonment in the period leading to her execution in 1793 - lots of Revolutionary associations.

Museums and Galleries

Remains of the medieval dungeon, Palais du Louvre

Musée du Louvre, Place du Carrousel (Métro: Louvre), ☎+33 1 40 20 53 17, [6]. open daily 10am-6pm, closed Tuesdays and some public holidays, evening openings We and Fr until 9.45pm, 1st Su of the month. Free admission for all, general admission (not including special exhibitions) adults €11. Its exhibits come from such diverse origins as ancient Egypt, classical Greece and Rome, medieval Europe and Napoleonic France. Its most famous exhibit, of course, is Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the Mona Lisa (French: La Joconde, Italian: La Gioconda), generally to be found surrounded by hordes of camera-flashing tourists. If you want to see everything in the Louvre, plan at least two full days. However, it is better to pick and choose, as the collection was assembled with an eye to completeness rather than quality.

Musée en Herbe, 21 rue Hérold (Métro: Les Halles, Palais Royal, Rambuteau, Sentier), ☎+33 1 40 67 97 66, [7]. Open daily 10 :00 am to 7 :00 pm.. A little brother for the original Musée en Herbe in the Bois de Boulogne, this museum is also geared for children. They have games and hands-on exhibits so won't have to supervise quite as closely as in other museums. Arts workshops are available as well, but you'll need to reserve a space in advance.€4 for the exhibitions, €8 for the workshops.

l'Orangerie (Musée de la Orangerie), ☎+33 1 44 77 80 07, [8]. open daily, except Tu, Christmas Day and 1st May; individuals 12.30pm-7pm, until 9pm Th; groups 9.30am-12.30pm; admission €7.50 adults; audio guides available in several languages €4.50 - recently reopened after extensive renovations, this small museum near the Louvre houses the Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume Collection, sold to the French Republic on very generous terms and numbering 143 paintings from the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century (15 Cézannes, 24 Renoirs, 10 Matisses, 12 Picassos, 28 Derains, 22 Soutines… ). The collection joined the eight immense Water Lilies that Monet gave France in 1922 and which have been displayed since 1927 in two huge oval rooms purpose-built on the artist's instructions.

Jeu de Paume, (northwestern corner of the Jardin des Tuileries). Built during the First Empire, in imitation of the Orangerie this small building is used by the Galerie Nationale to mount shows dedicated to lesser known, but nonetheless interesting artists, or (sometimes) the lesser known works of the Great Masters. This museum once housed many of the Impressionist painters that are now to be found in the Musée d'Orsay on the other side of the River Seine.

Musée des Arts décoratifs, 107, rue de Rivoli, ☎+33 1 44 55 57 50, [9]. Around the corner from the Musée du Louvre at Rue de Rivoli 107 - monument to the French art de vivre, housed in a 19th-century wing of the Louvre that has been restored to Beaux-Arts splendor, its galleries and period rooms showcasing eight centuries of Gallic taste in interior decoration.

Do

One of the great joys of a visit to Paris is to simply walk around and explore to get the feel of the city. The 1st is as good a place to start as any, with the largely car-free section around Les Halles, and the right bank of the river Seine as good places to start. As a little bonus if you are in Paris in the summer time, the express lanes at river level are converted to an all pedestrian road called "Paris Plage" which fills with rollerbladers and sun-bathers just about every afternoon.

A number of Paris theaters are located in the eastern end of the 1st. English language productions are not unheard of, but the opera is likely to be in Italian anyhow. Your best bet if you are interested in finding a show in either language is to pick up a copy of Pariscope which you can find at any newsstand for around €0.50. There are ticket outlets at Forum Les Halles (FNAC) among other locations.

St. Eustache from Les Halles

Buy

Forum les Halles, (Métro: Les Halles). Open daily from 9am to 7pm. In the late 1960s what was Paris' primary farmers' market moved out to the suburbs to be replaced by a park above ground, and a sprawling underground shopping centre below. The interior design is strikingly period (think Logan's Run). The place is showing its age now, but still draws nearly a half-million parisien/ennes per day, mostly teenagers. There's a movie theater and a media library too.

Rue Montorgueil, (Métro: Les Halles or Etienne-Marcel). To the north and west of Les Halles almost all of the streets are car-free including this one, on which you can find a wide range of food shops including two great bakers, a fish market, and a bio organic foods store.

Le Carrousel du Louvre. A diverse underground shopping precinct adjoining the Louvre Museum. Open daily including Sundays. There is also a direct access into the Louvre.

Eat

The 1st provides rather a wide range of eating possibilities, considering its central location and overall poshness. A large variety of inexpensive food is sold out of windows and stalls, especially on the car-free east end of the arrondissement near Les Halles. You'll always pay a bit more to sit down, of course.

On the other hand if you are looking for a nice posh place to take your mom or a date there are plenty, and some of them actually have food that is good enough to be worth the considerable prices.

Budget

La Crypte Polska, place Maurice Barrés (Métro: Concorde), ☎+33 1 42 60 43 33. Noon-3pm and 7pm to 10pm. Closed Monday. Believe it or not this little Polish restaurant is in the crypt under the church of Our Lady of the Assumption, and the Catholic-mystic decor alone makes a visit worthwhile. Plus the pierogi are about as good as you are going to find in Paris. Expect to pay €12-20 per person for the whole meal.

Mid-Range

Café Marly, 93 rue de Rivoli / cour Napoléon du Louvre (Métro: Palais Royal), ☎+33 1 49 26 06 60. Open daily 8am-2pm. Part of the Grand Louvre redevelopment. Café Marly was opened in 1994 and is situated within the balcony on the northern terrace of the Cour Napoléon. Patrons can enjoy the direct views of the Louvre Pyramid whilst sitting back in comfortable chairs, watching tourists stroll by.

Aux Trois Oliviers, 37 bis rue de Montpensier (Métro: Palais Royal-Louvre), ☎+33 1 40 20 03 02. This colorful and non-pretentious restaurant offers a range of dishes from throughout France and around the world. The mojitos are said to be quite good, as is the wine list. There's live entertainment (chansons français) each Friday night. Expect to spend around €15 per person at lunch or €20 at night.

Chez Denise (Tour de Montlhéry), 5 rue Prouvaires (Métro: Les Halles), ☎+33 1 42 36 21 82. Tues-Sun: noon-2:15pm & 7pm-11pm Mon: 7pm-11pm. Smal owner-operated bistro with traditional French country food in a nearly rustic setting. As such it's not exactly veggie-friendly, but it is open for dinner until 5:00am. Starters are from €10-12, main courses are €18-25, plus wine.

Splurge

Point Bar, 40 Place du Marché Saint-Honoré (Métro: Opéra or Pyramides), ☎+33 1 42 61 76 28. Alice Bardet, the daughter of a famous French chef de cuisine, Jean Bardet, has provided style, technique, and a feeling for quality ingredients to the restaurant.Lunchtime ''Menus'' start at €15, but the prices at night are around €40 per person ordering ''à la carte''.

Maceo, 15, rue des Petits Champs (Métro: Pyramides), ☎+33 1 42 96 98 89, [15]. What was once just a great wine bar with decent food has become a must-visit restaurant with the addition of star chef Thierry Bourbonnais. Second-empire atmosphere with fantastic food.Starters €13-18 and main courses are €25-28. There's a '''Vegetarian''' menu for around €30..

Drink

Bar Hemingway, 15 Place Vendôme (Métro: Pyramides), ☎+33 1 43 16 33 65 (fax: +33 1 43 16 33 75). Hemingway tried to drink here once per week even before he made it. Afterwards it was his favorite: when in August of 1944 Hemingway made a booze-powered drive into Paris ahead of the advancing Free French 2nd tank division it was to "liberate the Ritz", and specifically the bar which was shortly thereafter re-named in his honor. Today the bar is considered by many to be one of the best bars in the world, in no small part due to the bar-tending skills of Colin Field, who creates elaborate cocktails as a fine art, and with the rest of the staff is skilled at bringing his guests together in conversation.Expect to pay €30 or more per drink. (48.8690130,2.3276673)

Le Comptoir Paris-Marrakech, 37, rue Berger (Métro: Les Halles), ☎+33 1 40 26 26 66. A swank drinking and people watching spot on a corner across from the park above Les Halles. There are nice stuffed couches all over the room, and meze snacks are served. The place picks up speed a bit in the evening, attracting quite a mixed crowd.(48.8617962,2.3435712)

Café Oz, 18, rue Saint Denis, ☎+33 1 40 39 00 18, [17]. You probably didn't think you were coming to Paris to sample Australian culture, but if after a long day of strolling from one end of the city to another you would just like to let go a bit and meet up with some fellow Anglophones then you could do a lot worse than this almost legendarily hard-partying Aussie joint (ask the neighbors). Warning: as with other Aussie places in Paris for some reason, weekend nights here tend to bring out hoards of young single Frenchmen looking to chat up some (any) visiting anglophonette. This has been known to lead to, um, confrontations. ~€7 pints.

Juvénile's, 47 rue Richelieu, ☎+33 1 42 97 46 49. Nice wine + tapas bar cum wine shop : nice food, nice wines from around the world, &amp' you can buy a bottle to take home if you like it.

Willi's Wine Bar, 13 rue des Petits Champs, ☎+33 1 42 61 05 09, [18]. It's actually a restaurant and is more upscale than 'Juvéniles', serving good food and good to great bottles of wine with a focus on the Rhône valley, but including many from Burgundy, the Loire, as well as Italians and "Atlantic crossing" Califorians. The dinner menu by chef François Yon Great won the "Bib Gourmet 2009" award, and there are cheeses & deserts (yummy crumble)) for after. Reservation recommended.€20.50-€35.00.

Place Vendôme

Sleep

Rental apartments are cheaper in Paris than hotels.

Some of the most opulent hotels in the world are located either in or very close to the 1st arrondissement, and there's some choice in the mid-range. Budget travellers, on the other hand are probably better off in other, less central parts of town.

Budget

Centre International BVJ Paris-Louvre, 20 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Métro: Louvre), ☎+33 1 53 00 90 90 (fax: +33 1 53 00 90 91). With beds starting at 26€ this is just about as cheap as it's going to get in the 1st. If you are here to study the art at the Louvre, and want to stay focused it has a location which can't be beat, just across rue Rivoli.(48.8625381,2.3410622)

Hôtel Saint-Honoré, 85 Rue Saint-Honoré (Métro: Louvre), ☎+33 1 42 36 20 38, [20]. Close to the Louvre. The place was renovated in the last few years, so the comfort level is pretty good considering it hasn't received a star rating yet.(48.8611083,2.3433014)

Hôtel Britannique, 20 Avenue Victoria (Métro: Chatêlet), ☎+33 1 42 33 74 59 (fax: +33 1 42 33 82 65), [26]. Anglophiles in Paris could do worse than to stay at this most Anglophile of French hotels. The location is good, at the very east end of the 1st, within an easy walk of Notre Dame, Les Halles, and above the central hub Métro station.Double from €157. (48.8583295,2.3461341)

Mon Hotel (A member of Sterling Hotels), 1 Rue d'Argentine, ☎+33 1 450 27676, [27]. Sleek and modern rooms with rotating artwork provided by a local art agency. The Mon Hotel is within minutes of the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysées.€110-215.

Hôtel Brighton, 218 rue de Rivoli, [28]. The executive and deluxe room offer a breathtaking view on the Louvre, the Jardin des Tuileries and the Eiffel Tower. Classic Parisian style hotel located next to Paris shopping and cultural hot spots.Double from €229.

Hôtel Mansart, 5 rue des Capucines, [29]. This charming 3 stars hotel is located next to the Place Vendome and 2 minutes walk from the Opera Garnier and famous parisian Department stores. Antique furniture and paintings create an atmosphere of typical Parisian house.

Hôtel de la Place du Louvre, 21 rue des Prêtres Saint Germain l'Auxerrois, [30]. As its name suggests it, this hotel is located really close to the Louvre Museum. Rooms on the street offer an impressive view on the Louvre and its central location is ideal to visit Paris.

Splurge

Castille Paris, 33-37 rue Cambon, ☎+33 144 584 458, [31]. Located in the fashion district of Paris, the Castille Paris offers chic rooms that all look out onto the Rue Cambon. Some rooms are designed in a "Coco Chanel" style with beige and black tones.€350-820.

Hôtel Vendôme, 1, Place Vendôme (Métro: Pyramides), ☎+33 1 55 04 55 00. Occupying a building which was once the site of the Embassy of the Republic of Texas the Hotel Vendôme is one of the most exclusive addresses anywhere, much like the neighboring Ritz. The 29 rooms each have been decorated in the style of a different period, such as Classic, Baroque, or Deco. Singles start at only €350, and suites can be as much as €4,000.(48.8670031,2.3287060)

Hôtel Costes, 239 Rue Saint-Honoré (Métro: Concorde), ☎+33 1 42 44 50 00 (fax: +33 1 42 55 50 01), [32]. When the Costes brothers who made their fortune in the Paris café trade opened this designer hotel a couple of years ago it became an instant hit with the rich and famous, especially of Hollywood. Whether it's worth the price for the exquisite interior decoration and the chance to rub elbows with a few movie stars is up to you to decide. A basic room starts at €500in the off season. Be warned: they don't pay travel agents commissions, so either book it yourself, or pony up the extra €50 the agent would normally get.(48.8664365,2.3286655)

Hôtel Ritz, 15 Place Vendôme (Métro: Pyramides), ☎+33 1 43 16 30 70 (resa@ritzparis.com, fax: +33 1 43 16 36 68), [33]. If there is any one hotel in the world which is not merely "putting on" the Ritz it would be this one, whose very name has entered the English language as a generic word for luxury (or the appearance thereof). The Ritz may not in fact be the fanciest hotel in Paris anymore, but it's always in the running. Rooms start at €650per night, and run right up to €8,500(350x the price of our budget entry in the neighborhood), but heck, maybe it's your honeymoon.(48.8683694,2.3282338)

Hotel Keppler, 10, rue Kepler, ☎33 - 1 47 20 65 05 (hotel@keppler.fr, fax: 33 - 1 47 23 02 29), [34]. The hotel is well decorated and maintains a chic parisien atmosphere. The rooms are comfortable, with all the amenities anyone could ever expect. Good breakfast. The exercise area enough to maintain your routine with a steam after. Everyone here does their job with professionalism and good grace.300 - 1000€.

Contact

Internet Cafés

La Baguenaude, 30, rue Grande-Truanderie (Métro: Les Halles), [35]. This all SUSE Linux shop offers 1/2 hour (2.30€), hour (€3.80), and 2 hour (€6.10) time slots. They also offer courses in the use of KDE and the Gimp (in French of course).

Wireless hotspots

There are a number of cafés in each arrondissement which offer Free
wireless for drinking customers (for 20 min at a time). Here are a couple in the first:

Le Commerce, 12, rue Coquillère (Métro: Etienne Marcel).

Chez Flottes, 2, rue Cambon (Métro: Concorde).

Tabac du Châtelet, 8, rue Saint Denis (Métro: Châtelet).

Café du Pont Neuf, 14, quai du Louvre (Métro: Pont Neuf).

A complete listing is available from the company which provides the service: